I was at church a while back when out of the blue I thought: What if Jesus were here just as fully as that man in front of me?
I looked at the man’s back and hair and neck. I tried to imagine how my worship would change if Jesus was physically sitting an arm’s length away. I was pretty sure I’d fall on my knees in humility and awe instead of struggling to direct my distractible heart. My sins would be pouring freely out of my mouth, in confession unhindered by pride or rationalization. My dumb worries would evaporate. I’d be attentive, 100% alive and worshipping my heart out.
I stared at the man’s shirt collar, trying to wrap my mind around a Jesus so real He could sit in the seat ahead of me. I thought of Matthew 28:20, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Whether we sense His presence or not, He is there beside us, as real as real can be.
And so now I sometimes choose to sit on the sofa when I pray, where there’s room for Christ to sit next to me. I close my eyes and focus on God-with-us. My prayer life is different then, because many of the things I thought I needed to ask or say vanish, replaced by one simple thought: I want what You want, Lord.
